Barnyard Buzzers

Let us introduce you to Barnyard Buzzers. If you don’t already have a set of these fun little push-button buzzers, do yourself a favor and grab them today. You won’t be disappointed!

We’re always looking for awesome new toys to throw into our therapy bag. And the toys that get the most use are the ones that can be used in tons of different ways to target different developmental skills, appeal to different age groups, and provide a challenge for any skill level.

This four-pack of silly sounding buzzers includes a cow, a rooster, a horse, and a dog. And the possibilities are endless when it comes to incorporating them into gross motor, visual motor, and auditory play! Here are some ideas to get you started.

Barnyard Buzzers: 10 Ways to Play

1 || Sitting Balance on a Swing

Work on sitting balance on a platform swing while putting the buzzers on either side and in front of the child. Then, assist the child in prone lying and place the buzzers on the ground around the swing. The child then moves the swing around, searching and reaching for the buzzers to push.

2 || Kneeling

Set the buzzers up on a bench and tall kneel or half kneel while pushing each buzzer.

3 || Stairs

Have the child push each buzzer and identify the animal that makes each sound. Place the buzzers at the top of a set of stairs. Ask the child to climb the stairs and press a specific animal buzzer to hear the noise. Have him return to the bottom of the stairs to get the next instruction. You can also have toy animals that the child can carry up the stairs and match to the buzzer to make the sound.

4 || Prone Play

On a therapy mat, face the child in prone lying and show them all the buzzers. Have the child reach out and press each buzzer one at a time. Move the buzzers up, down, and to the sides of the child to encourage crossing midline and prone extension.

Incorporate some auditory processing by asking the child to push two different buzzers in a certain sequence.

Have the child extend her arms out in front and touch two different buzzers at the same time as she holds the prone extension position.

5 || All Fours Play

Play with the buzzers in quadruped or over a therapy ball or in all fours on the floor to work on strengthening.

6 || Obstacle Course

Make an obstacle course and have the buzzers in various locations throughout the course to motivate the child through each obstacle.

7 || Animal Walks

Move like the animals after you have pushed the buzzers (gallop like a horse, strut like a rooster, moo & march like a cow, and stretch like a dog).

8 || Look and find

Place the buzzers in various locations around the room and tell the child all the animals got out of the barn and they need to find them. Put the buzzers on the ground to work on squatting, high on a shelf to work on tip toes, or under a table to work on crawling.

9 || Guessing Game

For younger kids, have them close their eyes or wear a blindfold and see if they can name the animal after hearing the buzzer – no peeking!

10 || Reach and Bend

Mount the buzzers to a wall in various positions so the child has to reach up high (or even jump) and squat down low to the ground to reach them. Call out the animals and have him move to push each one. Again, try an auditory processing challenge by calling out a sequence of animals for him to push.

See what we mean? Barnyard Buzzers rock! Let us know if you pick up a set – we’d love to hear your creative ways to play!

Laurie Gombash is a physical therapist who also holds a Master's degree in Special Education. She has worked in the public school system for more than 20 years, and has created a product designed to help students connect literacy to motor skills: The ABC's of Movement